7th Week of Ordinary Time, Monday (Cycle II)

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

"The word of the Lord remains for ever;
What is this word?
It is the Good News that has been brought to you."

(Gospel Acclamation)

(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)

For a long time we haven't seen the green of Growing Time. We had 6 weeks of Lent, preparing for the Great Feast of Jesus, of His Resurrection - Easter. We celebrated Easter for 7 weeks, and yesterday we finished the season of Easter with the Feast of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost.

Now it is Ordinary Time again, or the time for growing. God has given us so much over the last 13 weeks, and it is time to let it grow.

One of the wonderful things God has been sharing with us over the last weeks is the Good News. Do you know what the Good News is?

What do we know about what Jesus did? 

Jesus died, and rose again. He is risen, and He can never die again. He has given us life with Him forever. This is the Good News.

This Good News means so much for us. It is like a seed that has been planted in our hearts, that grows and bears fruit in so many ways. I wonder if we will be able to notice the ways it is growing and bearing fruit in these weeks of growing time?

Thank you, Lord, for giving us the gift of the Good News. Thank you for this wonderful time of growing, when it can grow and bear much fruit.

(Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)

(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."